DETROIT – Motown
threw itself a spectacular, star-studded, red-carpet bash to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of its conception in the Motor City — and celebrate the 80th birthday of its genius visionary, Berry Gordy, to boot. Some of Motown’s most iconic alums and friends like
Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and even Kid Rock all came through to help set the glamour gala off. President Barack Obama gave a taped
congratulations to Gordy from the Oval Office that surprised “The Chairman” of Motown to tears.
Comedian Sindbad hosted the annual gala — which also featured Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rep. John Conyers — that raises money for the Motown Museum and Hitsville USA on Grand Boulevard. Highlights of the evening included a poignant tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson that incited an ovation, a duet with Stevie Wonder and Kid Rock, and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing bestowing Gordy a key to the city.
“I know there are a lot of young ladies out there who
thought they were the Supremes, or Martha Reeves, a lot of guys thought they
were in the Tempts or the Tops or Smokey,” said Bing. “Unfortunately
I wasn’t born here, but what I knew about Detroit, it was the car capital, but
it was also the birthplace of Motown. What Berry Gordy started 50 years ago
made us proud in the black community, it made Detroit proud, but it went beyond
that and became a national and then a global phenomenon.”
The performances began with a cover group singing some of the most memorable hits from the Motown era. Then the Temptations, led by sole original member Otis Williams, came on and rocked the house with hits like “My Girl” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
Aretha Franklin sang “We Never Said Goodbye” adding new lyrics, “You taught the world on both sides of the ocean a new way to dream,” which prompted a prolonged standing ovation. Other dignitaries inlcuded Esther Gordy Edwards — the founder of the Motown Musuem — Anna Gordy Gaye, Motown alums Martha Reeves, the Holland brothers, Claudette
Robinson, Otis Williams and Ron Tyson of the Temptations, and Clienice Stubbs
and the family of Levi Stubbs, the late Four Tops singer; Sinbad, Judge Greg
Mathis, Detroit Jazz Festival chairwoman Gretchen Valade and Edsel Ford II.
–terry shropshire
